Mark Ramprakash hit the first triple century of his first-class career as Surrey declared on 669 for five for a first-innings lead of 322 over Northamptonshire at The Oval with him undefeated on 301.

The former England batsman,the country's leading run-scorer in 2006, hit 44 fours and one six in his 445-ball knock and shared a third-wicket stand of 353 with his captain Mark Butcher (147) as the Second Division leaders eyed their seventh victory of the season. Azhar Mahmood then dismissed the Northants opener Stephen Peters but with Usman Afzaal scoring a century the visitors were 165 for one at the close.

Gloucestershire's hopes of prolonging the match against Leicestershire and sustaining the interest for a large festival crowd at Cheltenham College appeared increasingly to rest with Hamish Marshall. He began to strike out at Claude Henderson, the slow left-arm bowler who had taken five wickets with beguiling flight and turn on the first day. Twice he pulled him to the mid-wicket fence and then, with complete aplomb, moved out of his crease to reach his half-century with a perfect straight six. It had come off 53 balls.

The mood was picked up by the captain Alex Gidman with several bold strokes as if, at that point, the first- innings deficit of 200 might be lessened by the quickest route. Already, however, Phil Weston had gone to leg slip off Stuart Broad and Craig Spearman for 39 to Adam Griffith. Henderson then found some turn to dismiss Kadeer Ali and the rapt spectators had become audibly apprehensive. But Gidman and Marshall combined to revive the festival spirit and posted a century stand for the fourth wicket shortly after tea.

Gloucestershire went on to knock off the arrears in resurgent style - or rather Marshall did. His hundred came off only 103 balls and he was on 143 at the close, in a stand of 164 with Gidman. Their spirited comeback gave them a lead of 76 with seven wickets standing.

Yorkshire's 18-year-old leg-spinner Adil Rashid is the winner of the Professional Cricketers' Association player of the month award for July. Last month he became the first Yorkshire-born Asian to play for them in the County Championship and marked his debut against Warwickshire by taking six for 67. He has since taken 10 wickets and he hit a century for England in the Under-19 Test against India in Taunton.